Platform shoe, last and insole therefor and manufacture thereof

Abstract

An insole for a high heeled platform shoe ( 30 ), shaped to accommodate a platform ( 48 ) between the insole and an underside of a wearer's foot. Also, a high heeled platform shoe ( 30 ) including an outsole, an insole and a platform, in which the outsole is located on one side of the insole and the platform is located on the other side of the insole. Also, a last for lasting a high heeled platform shoe, the last being shaped to correspond to the shape of a foot and a platform located against the sole of the foot. Manufacture includes providing a platform located on one side of an insole and an outsole on the other side of the insole. The platform and its location above the insole provide comfort to the wearer of the shoe and reduce health problems.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A high heeled platform shoe including:
 an outsole;   an insole and a platform formed of a single piece of material, for raising a foot of a wearer at the fore and rear of the shoe,
 wherein a heel of the wearer is raised from the ground by at least 3.5 cm, 
 wherein the outsole is located on a lower side of the single piece in use, 
 wherein the single piece is resiliently deformable for shock absorption, and 
 wherein the single piece is thinner at a rear portion thereof than at a fore portion thereof, and at a fore portion thereof the single piece is at least 1 cm in thickness. 
   
     
     
         52 . A high heeled platform shoe according to  claim 51 , further comprising an upper, wherein the upper is lasted between the single piece and the outsole. 
     
     
         53 . A high heeled platform shoe according to  claim 51 , wherein the platform is formed of a synthetic or non-synthetic material. 
     
     
         54 . A high heeled platform shoe according to  claim 51 , further comprising a heel portion for supporting a wearer's heel, wherein the heel portion is sized such that a bottom of a heel of a wearer's foot is raised higher than a bottom of a fore part of the foot. 
     
     
         55 . A high heeled platform shoe according to  claim 51 , wherein the insole includes a shank for supporting the weight of a wearer, wherein the shank is shaped to accommodate a platform between the wearer's foot and the shank. 
     
     
         56 . A high heeled platform shoe according to  claim 51 , wherein the single piece is made of sufficiently strong material to support the weight of a wearer, such that a separate shank is not required. 
     
     
         57 . A high heeled platform shoe according to  claim 51 , wherein the single piece is made of multiple regions of material that vary in characteristics. 
     
     
         58 . A high heeled platform shoe according to  claim 51 , further comprising a rigid support extending at least partially around the periphery of the platform. 
     
     
         59 . A high heeled platform shoe according to  claim 51 , including a midsole or spacer between the single piece and the outsole to provide additional height to the wearer. 
     
     
         60 . The high heeled platform shoe of  claim 51 , wherein the single piece is at least lcm in thickness.